GREG Inglis was limping in Queensland's sheds at halftime, his knee heavily strapped, when Justin Hodges approached and said "Mate, we need you".

The superstar centre somehow defied a posterior cruciate ligament injury to play a faultless second half of football, as Queensland won their eighth consecutive State of Origin series.

It is a performance to be etched prominently in this team's storied history.

Inglis is expected to miss at least a month of football although the superstar centre was optimistic on Thursday, targeting South Sydney's round 21 clash against North Queensland as his return date after two weeks.

PCL injuries typically require six-weeks recovery.

Billy Slater suffered the same ligament damage in last year's Game Two loss at ANZ Stadium and missed nearly two months of football.

Despite playing with one knee, Inglis did not make an error or miss a tackle, making seven runs in the second half.

"It's unfortunate to be losing Greg for an extended period but we have a few options at fullback which we have tested this year, and myself and the team have the utmost confidence in those guys to get the job done until Greg is fit to return," Maguire said.

Hodges was sensational for Queensland, capping off a terrific series.

When he scored off a Cooper Cronk short ball, he grabbed the Maroons emblem on his jersey.

"I don't normally show much emotion. The emotion and everything took over. Thinking about it now... oh God, I was carrying on," Inglis said.

"To win eight series in a row is something that won't be done again in my lifetime.

"NSW are a great side and I think it will be their time soon."

Hodges said the team did not participate in rowdy celebrations, with Allan Langer unsurprisingly the most boisterous.

"Everyone was pretty drained so there weren't too many celebrations but Alfie had a good time," Hodges said.

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